Creative dinner for 24 in Boulder
Advice needed! I have perused the many Boulder area posts and am still casting about for a great idea. I will be hosting a pre-wedding, late summer '09 dinner for about 24 guests. We are almost all food fanatics, and many in the party have traveled around the world. Tastes for this repast will run the gamut from adventurous to veggie to ethnic to Eurocentric; most of this group hail from one of the coasts. I don't want to have to worry about the weather, so an indoor venue would be best. We like clean lines (and possibly views?) over frilly/Victorian. Nothing is "off the table" as far as the cuisine, other than steaks all around. Would just like to do something enjoyable for all concerned, and without spending too, too much. Casual is fine, if the setting/food are wonderful. Could be a restaurant or catered at an appealing venue, though a restaurant seems easier. Thanks in advance for your ideas.
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Another suggestion would be Centro Latin Kitchen & Refreshment Palace - they have a "stage" area with a big community table that sits like 15 people and then booths behind it that probably fit another 15. The food is AMAZING! It is my favorite restaurant in Boulder and very affordable.
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LurkerDan
Aug 8, 2008 09:12 AM
Since the group is traveling from afar, why not give them a somewhat local flavor? Zolo Grill is a good place to handle a large group like that, the food quite good and not super expensive.
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re: LurkerDan
wagger
Aug 10, 2008 11:23 AM
I'm not sure why you think that Zolo "is a good place to handle a large group like that." The dining room is actually rather small and the tables are mostly set back against banquettes or are booths. I can't see much of an opportunity for a group of 24 unless they reserve the outside patio. Even so, when I was there for a large group tequila tasting, we sat at individual tables, not one large conglomerated table.
Stick with Claire's suggestions. They are all right on the money.
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If you hadn't stipulated "without spending too much," I would have suggested the Flagstaff House, which has views overlooking Boulder and beyond, plus a beautiful private wine room. See http://www.flagstaffhouse.com. Laudisio, one of Boulder's fine Italian restaurants, has a private room that I think offers a limited foothills view. See http://www.laudisio.com/ and click on "The Personalized Italian Table." Jill's in the Hotel St. Julien is extremely accommodating. Chef Jason Rogers has a wide culinary repertoire. No mountain views, but a terrific open kichen and a flexible layout for private parties (and they also often have a tent set up that does offer mountain views). See http://www.jillsdining.com/. Q's Restaurant in the Hotel Boulderado has a lovely glassed-in porch and might also still be about to use its original second-floor space for private parties. Again, owner/chef John Platt does a wide range of electic fare. See http://www.qsboulder.com/. Both hotel restaurants are conveniently downtown, and both are committed to local/sustainable ingredients.
If you are willing to travel about 18 miles and want to experince Colorado's answer to Feran Adria, look into O's Restaurant in the Westin Westminster. Chef Ian Kleinman is into molecular gastronomy and does wild, gorgeous, cutting-edge meals. Don't be put off by the "steak and seafood" aspect of this hotel restaurant on the restaurant's website (http://www.westindenverboulder.com/page.php?url=restaurant), but go to Kleinman's blog at http://food102.blogspot.com/ to see what he's about or read http://culinary-colorado.blogspot.com... with links to local media coverage of his captivating culinary skills.
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